Pakistan hara-kiri lets Kiwis win Cool and Cool Cup
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 10:31 am under Sports News Pakistan hara-kiri lets Kiwis win Cool and Cool Cup
Pakistan batsmen gave a perfect example of how to lose an easy match in the third and final ODI at Abu Dhabi. New Zealand too did the same, almost losing the match towards the end but just managed to scrape through with a 7-run win. Set to chase only 212 on a perfect batting strip, Pakistan from a solid 47 for no loss slipped to 86 for 8 in the 24th over and after 10 overs of scratching around from Umar Gul, it became 101 for 9. The match was expected to be over in a matter of 10 minutes but instead it was an unbelievable 10th wicket partnership of 103 between Aamer and Ajmal that almost pulled off a miraculous victory for Pakistan.
New Zealand won a crucial toss and elected to bat first. They were setting themselves nicely for the 300-mark after a lovely opening start of 72 in 11.3 overs. Redmond’s slash at thirdman finally got some smiles in the Pakistani fielders. Off spinner Saeed Ajmal made it 88 for 2 when he forced a leading edge from Martin Guptill in the 17th over. It was the turn of the Kiwis to fight back and they did it through a 50-run stand between Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor. Shoaib Malik broke the partnership when he got a return catch from the dangerous McCullum (76 from 78 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes).
Pakistan were red hot in the middle overs with the spin trio of Ajmal, Afridi and Malik bowling plenty of dot balls to pile up the pressure on the Kiwis. The batsmen too were not good enough to get their bats down on time to block some deadly quicker ones. New Zealand out of nowhere, from 138 for 3 slipped to 198 for 9. They finished with a disappointing 211 all out in 46.3 overs. Ross Taylor scored 44 from 69 before he played across the line to get lbw to Ajmal. Broom was lbw to a skidding googly from Afridi. Skipper Vettori and Jacob Oram were both lbw to Ajmal’s quick skidding deliveries that came back with the arm. Saeed Ajmal bowled a magic spell indeed with 4 for 33 in his 10 overs. Shoaib Malik did a good job along with Afridi at a time when Ajmal left the field due to cramps.
Pakistan got off to a solid start, with 47 on the board in over 8 overs. Vettori had to bring himself in early and he provided the opening by striking the pad of Khalid Latif (19). In the 11th over, an out-of-form and a totally nervous Younis Khan ran out a well set Salman Butt (25). A ball later, the Pakistani Captain got dismissed for 3 from 16 balls after edging an away going one off Bond. Pakistan were now on the backfoot at 51 for 3 and the Kiwis were smart enough to control the match after this.
A series of short balls brought the wicket of Shoaib Malik which was followed up with three big wickets that of Umar Akmal (edging a cut shot), Shahid Afridi (edging a booming drive on the up) and Kamran Akmal (playing a horrendous pull shot). The last hope – Abdul Razzaq was run out and Pakistan were embarassed at 86 for 8. The Black Caps had to wait about 10 overs before they could get rid off Umar Gul off a pick up shot to deep mid wicket.
The match did not finish quickly as expected as the 10th wicket pair of Aamer and Ajmal could succeed in prolonging it further and further. Aamer started a possible fightback with three slog sweeps for three sixes off Vettori. The left hander never looked in trouble and even played a glorious inside out cover drive off Shane Bond. Along with Ajmal, he brought the target down unknowingly and moments later, Pakistan were nervously inching towards a victory with just 13 more needed to win from the final two overs. Aamer was confident having got past a maiden ODI fifty but his partner Ajmal left him down in the end after hooking in the air to fine leg in the first ball of the last over with Pakistan needing 8 runs to win off 6 balls.
Saeed Ajmal was dismissed for 33 (from 44 balls with 2 fours) while his partner Mohammad Aamer was the hero with an unbeaten 73 from 81 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. They almost robbed what could have been a famous victory for Pakistan in the end and leaving Vettori furious. For New Zealand, the best bowler was Jacob Oram with 3 for 20 in 9.1 overs but the opening in the match was certainly given by Vettori and Bond. Aamer got the Man of the Match for his all-round efforts while Brendon McCullum was given the Player of the Series.
? 2009, CricketMove.Com. All rights reserved. Partner with APakistanNews.com
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